Cake Protection and Simulated Decoration Apparatus

ABSTRACT

A cake protection and simulated decoration apparatus includes a base member having opposed bottom and top surfaces parallel having planar configurations, respectively, and being separated by a peripheral edge. The apparatus includes a body member having at least one side wall defining an interior area and is movable between a deployed configuration coupled to the top surface of the base member and a removed configuration displaced from the top surface, the body member defining an open top and an open bottom. A lid includes a planar top wall having a lip extending perpendicularly away from a peripheral edge of the top wall, the lip defining a diameter complementary to a diameter defined by an upper edge of the body member for releasably receiving the upper edge in a friction fit engagement. The lid is constructed of a metal material for operably receiving and adhering the magnetic decorations thereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates general to cake protection devices and, more particularly, to an apparatus that on its exterior structure simulates an authentic decorated cake while receiving in an interior space an actual cake and protecting the cake from damage.

Time spent between a parent and child engaging in a game, watching a ball game, or anticipating an upcoming event is universally seen as a positive expenditure of time. Specifically, parents and children often spend time baking, decorating, and transporting the child's birthday cake to the location of the birthday party, whether at home, at Grandma's house, or at the park. Unfortunately, there is a risk that the cake will be damaged or corrupted in transit or, as now better understood, by the myriad of germs that may be spread merely from the child blowing out the candles or other cake decorations.

Further, the inventor has observed this significant problem that is perpetuated at birthday parties around the world. Namely, literally thousands of germs are simultaneously blown and spread over an entire birthday cake when the birthday child blows out lit candles that were placed as decorations on the cake. Although traditional cake carriers may protect a cake and, specifically, the frosting on the cake from undesirable damage furing transport in a car to a birthday party or even when being displayed, such carriers do not allow a user to decorate a simulated cake while simultaneously shielding an actual cake from being contaminated by a birthday child blowing out candles. At best, some existing cake carriers may be constructed of a transparent material such that an actual cake as merely “visible” therein.

Therefore, it would be desirable to have a cake protection and simulated decoration apparatus that protects an actual cake that may be placed in an interior space while simulating a birthday cake by allowing candles or other decorations to be adhered to an exterior surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A cake protection and simulated decoration apparatus according to the present invention for carrying a cake therein and displaying magnetic decorations thereon includes a base member having a bottom surface and a top surface parallel to a portion of the bottom surface, the top surface and the bottom surface having planar configurations, respectively, and being separated by a peripheral edge defining a base diameter. The apparatus includes a body member that includes at least one side wall that defines an interior area and is movable between a deployed configuration coupled to and extending upwardly from the top surface of the base member and a removed configuration displaced from the top surface, the body member defining an open top and an open bottom. A lid includes a top wall having a planar configuration and a lip extending perpendicularly away from a peripheral edge of the top wall, the lip defining a diameter complementary to a diameter defined by an upper edge of the body member for releasably receiving the upper edge in a friction fit engagement. The lid is constructed of a metal material for operably receiving and adhering the magnetic decorations thereto.

Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a cake protection and simulated decoration apparatus that protects an actual cake that may be placed in an interior space while simulating a birthday cake by allowing candles or other decorations to be adhered to an exterior surface.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cake protection and simulated decoration apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the apparatus as in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 a front view of the apparatus as in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4a is a perspective view of a lid removed from the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4b a side view of the lid as in FIG. 4 a;

FIG. 5 is perspective view of a body member removed from the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6a is a perspective view of a base member removed from the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6b a side view of the body member as in FIG. 4a ; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an exploded view of the apparatus according to the present invention illustrated with all components having a rectangular configuration.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A cake protection and simulated decoration apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings. The cake protection and simulated decoration apparatus 10 includes a body member 30, a base member, and a lid 40 configured for releasable attachment to one another and constructed to adhere magnetic decorations thereto that are indicative of a decorated birthday cake.

The base member 20 has a robust and stable configuration designed to support the other components and a cake therein upon a tabletop surface, table, or while the entire apparatus 10 is carried and transported. More particularly, the base member 20 may include a bottom surface 22 having a generally planar (i.e. flat) configuration although it may be that only a center portion of the bottom surface 22 is flat where as opposed end portions may be angled upwardly to join a top surface thereof as shown in FIG. 6b . The base member 20 may include a top surface 24 having a planar (i.e. flat) configuration that is situated parallel to the planar section of the bottom surface 22. The base member 20 has an outer peripheral edge 26 where the bottom surface 22 converges to meet the top surface 24. Together, the bottom and top surfaces of the base member 20 form a platter on which the body member 30 may be supported as will be described later and on which a real baked and decoated cake (not shown) may be supported.

In an embodiment, the base member 20 may include a rim 28 that extends upwardly from the top surface 24 of the base member 20, the rim 28 being inwardly displaced from the peripheral edge 26 (which is the outermost extent of the base member). The rim 28 may be referred to as an upstanding wall extending upwardly from the top surface 24. Preferably, the elements of the base member 20, including the bottom surface 22, the top surface 24, and the rim 28 may have a circular or cylindrical configuration and, accordingly, the rim 28 is positioned concentrically atop the top surface 24.

The body member 30 includes at least one side wall 32 that is shaped to form an interior area and that is selectively positioned atop the top surface 24 of the base member 20. In an embodiment, the at least one side wall 32 is a continuous side wall having a tubular or cylindrical configuration defining an open open top 38 and an open bottom 39. The side wall 32 has a vertically elongate configuration that is longer or taller than the base member 20 of lid 40. Now it important that the rim 28 and a lower edge 34 of the body member 30 define diameters, respectively, that are slightly offset from one another such that the at least one side wall 32 is received by the rim 28 in a friction fit configuration. More particularly, the rim 28 having a circular or cylindrical configuration has a free edge 29 defining a rim diameter. Similarly, the body member 30 and, thus, the lower edge 34 of the body member 30 has a diameter different from the diameter of the free edge of the rim 28. Preferably, the diameter of the lower edge 34 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the free edge 29 of the rim 28 so that the side wall 32 is received against an inner surface of the rim 28 in a friction fit engagement (FIG. 1). In an embodiment, the free edge 29 of the rim 28 has a rounded configuration that extends inwardly so that the lower edge 34 of the side wall 32 is received in a snap-fit configuration. It is understood, of course, that the side wall 32 and rim 28 may have diameters that result in the side wall 32 being received to the outside of the rim 28 rather than to the inside of the rim 28 as shown and described above.

The lid 40 has a configuration that covers the open top 38 of the side wall 32 of the body member 30 when coupled to an upper edge 36 thereof and permits access to the interior area when released or displaced therefrom. More particularly, the lid 40 includes a top wall 42 that has a planar configuration (i.e. flat) and has a lip 44 extending perpendicularly away from a peripheral edge of the top wall 42. In use and as shown, the lip 44 is a wall that extends downwardly from the top wall 42. In a manner substantially similar to the friction fit arrangement described above with reference to the base member 20 and lower edge 34 of the side wall 32 of the body member 30, the body member 30 includes an upper edge 36 and the lip 44 includes a free edge 46 complementary to and slightly offset relative to the upper edge 36. Stated another way, the upper edge 36 of the body member 30 and the free edge 46 of the lip 44 have slightly different diameters so as to nest in a friction fit relationship. Specifically, the free edge 46 is a rounded edge so that the upper edge 36 of the side wall 32 may be received in a snap-fit configuration.

In another aspect, the lid 40 and side wall 32 may include complementary fasteners that selectively couple together to secure the lid 40 and side wall 32 together. More particularly, a plurality of first fasteners 50 are spaced apart and coupled to the lip 44 of the lid 40 (FIG. 4a ). Then, a plurality of second fasteners 52 are spaced apart and coupled to the upper edge 36 of the side wall 32 of the body member 30. The plurality of fasteners may be clasps, buckles, snaps, hook-and-loop fastener pairs, or other suitable fasteners. The plurality of second fasteners 52 are positioned or aligned to match up with the plurality of first fasteners, respectively, and have complementary configurations designed to receive and releasably secure the same.

With further regard to the lid 40, at least the top wall 42 is constructed of a metal material to which magnetic decorations 12 may be releasably coupled, As shown, the magnetic decorations 12 may be candles having a magnetic end or may also be in the shape of a birthday cap, birthday hat, animals, alphanumeric characters, and other decorations indicative of a birthday, holiday, anniversary, or other special occasion. It is also anticipated that all or a portion of the body member 30 may be constructed of a material to which magnetic objects may adhere. Alternatively, the side wall 32 of the body member 30 may be coated, covered, or molded with a material having the appearance of frosting, such as plaster of paris.

It is understood that the at least one side wall of a body member 30 may actually be a plurality of side walls that are arranged, coupled together, or molded in a rectangular configuration. And, the lid 40 and base member 20 corresponding to the rectangular body member 30 may also have rectangular configurations, respectively. It is noted that the same reference numerals on the rectangular configuration are intentionally the same as used for the circular or cylindrical configuration illustrations as the illustration shown in FIG. 7 is simply a design choice and not a different embodiment than that first described above.

In use, an actual cake, such as a birthday cake, may be placed atop the top surface 24 of the base member 20 and the body member 30 may be placed over the cake and onto the top surface 24 and frictionally coupled to the rim 28 of the base member 20 as discussed above. In this manner, the cake is protected from damage from the inquisitive fingers of a child or from contact with the seats of a car or other objects as the cake is transported, say, to a birthday party. In addition, the lid 40 may also be coupled to the upper edge 36 of the side wall 32 of the body member 30 so as to cover the open top 38 and prevent unwanted contact with the top of the cake. Either before a party or during the party, an adult or hopefully a child may decorate the top of the lid 40 with magnetic decorations.

It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof. 

1. A cake protection and simulated decoration apparatus for carrying a cake therein and displaying magnetic decorations, comprising: a base member includes a bottom surface and a top surface parallel to a portion of said bottom surface, said top surface and said bottom surface having planar configurations, respectively, and being separated by a peripheral edge defining a base diameter; a body member that includes at least one side wall that defines an interior area and is movable between a deployed configuration coupled to and extending upwardly from said top surface of said base member and a removed configuration displaced from said top surface, said body member defining an open top and an open bottom; and a lid that includes a top wall having a planar configuration and a lip extending perpendicularly away from a peripheral edge of said top wall, said lip defining a diameter complementary to a diameter defined by an upper edge of said body member for releasably receiving said upper edge in a friction fit engagement. wherein said lid is constructed of a metal material for operably receiving and adhering the magnetic decorations thereto.
 2. The cake protection and simulated decoration apparatus as in claim 1, wherein: said base member has a circular configuration; wherein said at least one side wall of said body member is a continuous side wall having a tubular configuration that defines said interior area.
 3. The cake protection and simulated decoration apparatus as in claim 1, wherein: said base member has a rectangular configuration; said at least one side wall of said body member includes a plurality of side walls connected together to form a rectangular configuration and to define said interior area.
 4. The cake protection and simulated decoration apparatus as in claim 1, wherein: said base member includes a rim inwardly displaced from said peripheral edge of said base member and extending perpendicularly away from said top surface thereof; said rim defining a diameter complementary to a diameter defined by a lower edge of said body member for releasably receiving said lower edge in a friction fit engagement.
 5. The cake protection and simulated decoration apparatus as in claim 4, wherein said diameter of said lower edge of said body member is smaller than said diameter of said rim so that lower edge of said body member bears against an inner surface of said rim.
 6. The cake protection and simulated decoration apparatus as in claim 5, wherein said rim includes a free edge extending inwardly such that said lower edge of said body member is releasably received by said free edge in a snap-fit configuration.
 7. The cake protection and simulated decoration apparatus as in claim 6, wherein said lip includes a rounded edge extending inwardly such that said upper edge of said body member is releasably received by said rounded edge in a snap-fit configuration.
 8. The cake protection and simulated decoration apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said lip includes a rounded edge extending outwardly such that said upper edge of said body member is releasably received by said rounded edge in a snap-fit configuration.
 9. The cake protection and simulated decoration apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of first fasteners spaced apart from one another and coupled to said lip of said lid member; a plurality of second fasteners spaced apart from one another and coupled to said body member adjacent said upper edge thereof, said plurality of second fasteners being aligned to engage said plurality of first fasteners, respectively.
 10. The cake protection and simulated decoration apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said body member is constructed of a metal material for operably receiving and adhering the magnetic decorations thereto.
 11. A cake protection and simulated decoration apparatus for carrying a cake therein and displaying magnetic decorations, comprising: a base member includes a bottom surface and a top surface parallel to a portion of said bottom surface, said top surface and said bottom surface having planar configurations, respectively, and being separated by a peripheral edge defining a base diameter; a body member that includes at least one side wall that defines an interior area and is movable between a deployed configuration coupled to and extending upwardly from said top surface of said base member and a removed configuration displaced from said top surface, said body member defining an open top and an open bottom; and a lid that includes a top wall having a planar configuration and a lip extending perpendicularly away from a peripheral edge of said top wall, said lip defining a diameter complementary to a diameter defined by an upper edge of said body member for releasably receiving said upper edge in a friction fit engagement; wherein: said lid is constructed of a metal material for operably receiving and adhering the magnetic decorations thereto; said base member includes a rim inwardly displaced from said peripheral edge of said base member and extending perpendicularly away from said top surface thereof; said rim defining a diameter complementary to a diameter defined by a lower edge of said body member for releasably receiving said lower edge in a friction fit engagement.
 12. The cake protection and simulated decoration apparatus as in claim 11, wherein said diameter of said lower edge of said body member is smaller than said diameter of said rim so that lower edge of said body member bears against an inner surface of said rim.
 13. The cake protection and simulated decoration apparatus as in claim 12, wherein said rim includes a free edge extending inwardly such that said lower edge of said body member is releasably received by said free edge in a snap-fit configuration.
 14. The cake protection and simulated decoration apparatus as in claim 13, wherein said lip includes a rounded edge extending outwardly such that said upper edge of said body member is releasably received by said rounded edge in a snap-fit configuration.
 15. The cake protection and simulated decoration apparatus as in claim 11, wherein said lip includes a rounded edge extending outwardly such that said upper edge of said body member is releasably received by said rounded edge in a snap-fit configuration.
 16. The cake protection and simulated decoration apparatus as in claim 11, further comprising: a plurality of first fasteners spaced apart from one another and coupled to said lip of said lid member; a plurality of second fasteners spaced apart from one another and coupled to said body member adjacent said upper edge thereof, said plurality of second fasteners being aligned to engage said plurality of first fasteners, respectively.
 17. The cake protection and simulated decoration apparatus as in claim 15, wherein said body member is constructed of a metal material for operably receiving and adhering the magnetic decorations thereto.
 18. The cake protection and simulated decoration apparatus as in claim 11, wherein: said base member has a circular configuration; wherein said at least one side wall of said body member is a continuous side wall having a tubular configuration that defines said interior area.
 19. The cake protection and simulated decoration apparatus as in claim 11, wherein: said base member has a rectangular configuration; said at least one side wall of said body member includes a plurality of side walls connected together to form a rectangular configuration and to define said interior area. 